That's Life is a compilation of previously published written works by Edward Shaw. These include biographies and events associated with the lives of what he calls "Uncommonly Interesting Historical Figures." Reflecting his own diversity of interests, the works range from stories about the great writers of the Romantic era to those about the nitty gritty realists; from the unique histories of film stars to those of classical musicians and singers; and from tales capturing the uniqueness of an Old West gunslinger to those about the scandalous woman who was America's first presidential candidate.

The author, who came to writing after retiring from a career as an academic and nonprofit executive, has also included several fictional short stories, some of his original poetry, and a number of memoir-like personal recollections. His memories of California's rural life in the 1940s followed by his later experiences at UC Berkeley and UCLA afford us a unique backdrop on the ebb and flow of societal change we have witnessed over the past century.